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December 3, 2025
A Pilgrimage for the Waters
July 18-26, 2026 - Everyone should know where their water comes from
“More people need to get out into these remote areas and understand where our water comes from and how forest ecology works; to see firsthand the beauty that exists, as well as the threats that are always surfacing. The satisfaction of making bird nesting habitat, or planting trees – whatever the action might be, must be about helping those wild living beings first and foremost. By investing in nature, she will invest in us – this represents the true economy of a living Earth – and this helps us grow mindfulness towards all living beings; including a stronger connection towards each other.”
Don Elzer – Wildcraft Forest Foundation
VERNON, BRITISH COLUMBIA - As 2026 arrives an environmental organization is getting prepared for research and work expeditions into British Columbia’s remote forests which represent headwaters areas for both the Fraser River and the Columbia River.
The Wildcraft Forest Foundation will be engaging with their environmental monitoring efforts in the Monashee and Okanagan Highlands which blends with their experiential learning programs.
2026 will mark the first year that the organization is presenting “A Pilgrimage for the Waters” which is intended to raise awareness about these two great watersheds.
“Everyone should know where their water comes from and in the southern interior of British Columbia this is particularly important because we steward a primary source of fresh water for the Pacific Ocean”, says organization spokesperson Don Elzer.
“This area of the Monashee feeds more freshwater into the Pacific than any other water drainage in the America’s so it’s very important that we protect, regenerate and rewild this area. We believe that the forest and all of her species and guardians are sentient and it is our task to not only perform the stewardship required, but to create a long-term relationship with these places”, he added.
Pilgrimage events are being organized from July 18th to 26th and will involve organized backcountry treks to various water sources.
“We are taking a spiritual approach as we celebrate the importance of these headwater locations. Humans have a rich history of respecting such locations and we are attempting to gather together various spiritual and faith-based groups to engage with their own forms of ceremony and prayer to help build awareness and support for these places,” said Elzer.
A pilgrimage connected to a water source can refer to a religious or spiritual journey to a sacred body of water for healing, renewal, or spiritual connection; or for seeking blessings from a sacred spring. It can also be a modern, secular journey focusing on environmental stewardship or forming a personal connection with the space and water source.
“It’s important that we advocate for creeks, rivers and lakes and that we create a personal practice of reflection at a local water source. This process creates a kinship that becomes important for ourselves, the place and the wider community – and then finally for the planet,” said Elzer.
Elzer outlines that the effort is linked to a form of “Spiritual Ecology” which is an interdisciplinary field that recognizes the spiritual and ethical dimensions of environmental issues, advocating for the integration of spirituality into conservation efforts. It proposes that ecological problems are not solely material but also have deep spiritual roots and require spiritually informed solutions. The field emphasizes an interconnectedness of all life, encouraging reverence for nature and promoting a more harmonious relationship between humanity and the environment.
“There are also very practical reasons for creating an annual trek to these locations. It gives the public a chance to see what’s happening within the landscape. How is the climate changing? What’s the level of natural resource extraction? It’s a chance to learn about the plant and animal species that reside here and to become knowledgeable about these places and the water,” said Elzer.
He hopes that the event will spawn other groups and individuals to organize other water pilgrimages because every source of fresh water is important and offers us a spiritual connection.
“More people need to get out into these remote areas and understand where our water comes from and how forest ecology works; to see firsthand the beauty that exists, as well as the threats that are always surfacing. The satisfaction of making bird nesting habitat, or planting trees – whatever the action might be, must be about helping those wild living beings first and foremost. By investing in nature, she will invest in us – this represents the true economy of a living Earth – and this helps us grow mindfulness towards all living beings; including a stronger connection towards each other,” said Elzer.
In the coming months the Wildcraft Forest Foundation will be assembling activities, special guests, trail details and sponsors. Residents and visitors will be able to learn more about A Pilgrimage for the Waters by visiting the Mother Tree Hub at www.mothertreehub.com .
To learn about the Wildcraft Forest Foundation visit their Extension Services website at:
www.wildcraftforestschool.com
Visit the Wildcraft Forest Channel on Roku. Learn more: www.wildcraftforestchannel.com
For an interview contact Don Elzer at 250.547.2001 or by email at: info@wildcraftforest.com
Photo: A photo from the Wildcraft Forest School taken during a Mother Tree Expedition in the Monashee. This photo is of Rainbow Falls which represents a headwaters area for the Shuswap River and then the Fraser River. This area still has old growth forests which are part of British Columbia’s Inland Temperate Rainforest which provides important freshwater for the Pacific Ocean.
Photo Credit: Wildcraft Forest Foundation
